Royal Society: international scientific cooperation after Brexit

A meeting organised by the Royal Society took place on Monday 27th February 2017, in London, with diplomats, especially Scientific Advisors in Embassies. On this occasion, the institution presented its activities undertaken for promoting international scientific cooperation.

In her presentation, Dr Julie Maxton, Executive Director at the Royal Society, drew the attention of the audience to the international dimension of UK research. Around 16% of UK’s academic staff comes from other EU countries; and half of postgraduate research students are foreigners (including 14% of non-EU nationals).

Three reports were released by the Royal Society in 2016 (before and after the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union) on the relationships between UK research and the European Union. The topics covered were: funding, mobility and collaboration, and regulation and policy.

Representatives of the Royal Society answered questions from the audience, including concerns on the future of researchers from EU (non-UK) countries working in the UK. The following points were highlighted: the importance of strengthening international scientific networks; and the Royal Society’s adviser role in a context of political negotiations.

The Royal Society is a key stakeholder, well integrated in the global R&D network. It is member of the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC), which brings together science academies from EU Member States, and of the All European Academies (ALLEA) gathering learned societies in Europe.